The Aghios Ioannis Perigialitis (or Perialitis) church is situated around two kilometres west of the village of Mastichari overlooking the sea. The scenery is idyllic with an unlimited view of the Aegean sea. Its sunset is considered inique.
The Aghios Ioannis Perigialitis church is a small single-transept vaulted church with a protuberant semi-circular apse and a transverse strengthening arch, supported by side columns. Various architectural marble spolia have been used for its construction. A column capital of Ionic order, with an impost bearing a cross, that was originally in the early Christian basilica of Mastichari, can be seen in the chancel of the church.
According to archeological evidence, the place was inhabited from the ancient times till the 7th century, when it was abandoned due to incursions by the Arabs. At the bottom of the sea, close to the shore, by the church, ruins of ancient buildings, marble pieces and columns are still visible, if you go out for snorkeling. A piece of a small marble bas-relief was found to the Northeast of the church, depicting a gesticulating standing figure. A “treasure” of golden coins was found close to the church in the second half of the 19th century. It seems that the inhabitants of the island who were still living by the seashore during the 7th century, had to hide hastily their savings from Arab incursions. Some of them, who were slaughtered, never came back to recover their treasure!
A festival takes place there each year, in honour of St John the Baptist, on the 29th of August.
(Source: Georgios Mastoropoulos, Antimacheia Koa)
